PORCELAIN SLABS : WHY USE PORCELAIN IN MY GARDEN ?
Porcelain is a man made product , that is ever more popular for external use for those looking for maintenance free slabs for their installation , so lets see whether they'd be the right choice for you ?!?!
Not so long ago , Porcelain tiles/slabs were much dearer , significantly more so than Natural Stone however over time , and as Porcelain became more and more popular , the price has reduced , and become closer to that of Natural Stone .
Porcelain is now available in a multitude of colours and our Porcelain is available as a 900 mm x 600 mm x 20mm , and we range from Whites & Creams to Beige toned slabs , and many varieties of Grey , both light and dark , to Black / Anthracite / Charcoals , and we endeavour to provide options in either very consistent colours and tones , or something “busier” with similar patterns more associated with Natural Stone , we literally cater for all !
Porcelain from Marblemosaics Ltd will have sawn edges , therefore for those looking for a more traditional , rustic appearance , with Tumbled edges etc , will often opt for our Natural Stone products , which are equally as popular , and a wide range of Limestone Paving Flagstones with Tumbled edges , Brushed surfaces , etc can be viewed on our website .
IS PORCELAIN MORE DURABLE THAN NATURAL STONE ?
Porcelain is essentially a ceramic tile made from a mixture of clay that is kiln fired , however Porcelain is made from more refined clay than ceramic tiles and is fired at higher temperatures , this makes it denser , and significantly more durable than a ceramic tile , so makes it perfect for the rigours of being installed externally in the UK , with our seemingly ever more contrasting , and undesirable weather , giving you absolutely nothing to be concerned about when it comes to you patio installation .
Given the manufacturing techniques involved with Porcelain slabs , particularly the use of more refined clay than that used in the production of ceramics , Porcelain is therefore an extremely water resistant , and durable , material and significantly less porous than Natural Stone , which is both as a result of the high temperatures used in production , and the finer particles within the clay , that all adds to the reduced porosity of the slabs , and also how robust and durable they are , even in the face of a British winter .
With the ever growing popularity of Porcelain , it is achieving new heights in mirroring the appearance of many Natural Stone Slabs , even to the point of being so good , that is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between what is Porcelain and what is Stone .Porcelains are now more popular than ever , and without the need of sealing , and general maintenance , that Natural Stone often requires.
STAINING FROM FLUIDS/WATER/LIQUIDS ETC.
Due to its lack of porosity , yet being a dense material , Porcelain is more resistant to penetration from water , liquids, fluids , etc etc which all aid the resistance to staining and water penetration and spillages of most varieties can be readily cleaned up with a mop , damp cloth etc .
Although Porcelain is largely resistant to stains , water penetration etc , they are not indestructible , therefore exposure to abuse from potentially harmful products such as anything acidic , corrosive , or abrasive could lead to issues over a period of time , or even sooner , therefore treating your Porcelain with some care and respect is still important , in order to prolong its beauty over the years , and very much recommended .
INSTALLATION OF PORCELAIN PAVING .
Installing Porcelain will hold no fears for those competent DIY ‘ers out there , and certainly not for trade persons , however Porcelain is a hard material , which makes using the correct tools something that is very much recommended , particularly for those very precise cuts to ensure a finish that is worthy of your brand new installation , therefore employing a landscaper / tiler is often the best option for those who don’t necessarily have what is required , to satisfactorily install these slabs , at their disposal and although it may increase your costs , at least you are guaranteed a professional job and very limited wastage on the material you purchase .
Porcelain can be installed either mortar , or tile adhesive , however the latter is only recommend as an option if installing upon a concrete substrate .
If opting for mortar , then the recommendation , industry wide , is to use a wet slurry / primer , on the back of the slab , as this will ensure a thorough bond to the substrate , and prevent water getting under the slab and causing issues in freezing conditions .
UPKEEP OF PORCELAIN .
Porcelain , by its very nature , is one of the most robust , hard wearing materials on the market , hence its popularity for external projects , and providing it is installed correctly , with the moderate maintenance , previously mentioned , adhered too , you will spend many years admiring your installation without issue .
Our Porcelain also boasts an R11 anti-slip rating , which helps to avoid the risk of accidents on this material over its lifetime .
As with any tiling / paving project , Porcelain is no different in terms of the recommendation of including 10% “wastage” allowance when purchasing your materials , this will often result in having a few slabs left over when your patio is complete , which is no bad thing , as if you ever need to pull up a slab , then you'll have a spare , from the same batch you purchased from , to replace it with .
ARE PORCELAIN SLABS HEAVY ?
As with the majority of Paving materials , be they Natural Stone or Porcelain , there is very little that is light in that respect , and , in terms of weight , our Porcelain will ordinarily weigh approx 45-50 kg per m2 when @ 20 mm depth , therefore , there would ordinarily be around 21m2 -22m2 as a maximum that can be shipped upon one pallet / crate , given hauliers have a weight restriction of 1,000 kg per pallet / crate .
IN SUMMARY - ARE PORCELAIN PAVERS THE RIGHT PRODUCT FOR ME?
Porcelain slabs a great choice if you're ultimately looking for the benefits of man made materials , that can also offer the appearance of something more along the lines of what Natural Stone can provide , but without the need to seal and generally maintain .
Even when mirroring the appearance of natural stone , as Porcelain often does , this material will generally tend to provide a more contemporary appearance , with its neat sawn edges , that cannot help but provide a modern look , however the very rustic surfaces now available in some Porcelains , that can even mimic rough textured Riven sandstones , such as our Kandla Grey Porcelain allows them to fit nicely in to one's more traditional installation , therefore , essentially , Porcelain can be very much classed as a multipurpose slab .